"In victory, be humble. In defeat, be
strong. In all things be fair."
--Eternal Grand Master H.U. Lee
 |
The "Songahm
Star" is the pattern that is formed on the ground if
all 18 forms of the Songahm system are completed. In
a perfect Songahm Star, the distance from the center
point of the star to the top point is nine feet
("feet" being the student's foot length). The total
distance from the top point to the bottom point
equals 18 feet, representing the number of forms in
the Songahm system. |
"Martial Art" is a broad term encompassing the many styles
of physical discipline (fighting) arts that have been
developed over the centuries. To say that the style of
Songahm Taekwondo is just another "martial art" would be an
oversimplified explanation of the world's largest centrally
administered martial art. This system of teaching and
training is unequaled in the martial arts community.
During its early years, the ATA used the Chahng-hun style of
forms (also used by the International Taekwondo Federation).
But although this style was widely accepted in the Taekwondo
community,
Eternal Grand Master H. U. Lee
felt that its forms did not accurately reflect Taekwondo --
particularly the strength and beauty of Taekwondo kicking
techniques. As a result, he believed the forms contributed
little to the Taekwondo curriculum. For example, white belts
were expected to know front kicks and side kicks, but no
front kick appeared until the third (yellow belt) form, and
there was no side kick until the form after that!
From 1983 to 1990, Eternal Grand Master introduced the
eighteen Songahm forms. These forms are part of a
fully-integrated curriculum, in which everything a student
learns reinforces everything else. The forms contain all or
nearly all of the techniques that students are expected to
know at each rank, the one-step sparring segments complement
the forms, and all of these patterns lead logically to the
movements required for each succeeding rank.
The Songahm curriculum facilitates a smooth progression from
one rank to the next, so that students who begin Taekwondo
feeling they'll never be able to do a simple block (for
example) suddenly find themselves a few years later doing
360-degree jumping kicks with ease.
Songahm Taekwondo also focuses on personal development of
the mind and body. To say it is just self-defense would be
to lose most of the valuable ideas and philosophy behind
this ancient art.
The heightened capacity for self-defense resulting from our
Taekwondo is really a fringe benefit that is gained by
dedicating one's self to the values, philosophy and training
of Songahm Taekwondo. When learning, a student is in a true,
traditional Taekwondo class, focusing not just on the
physical but also on discipline, honor, self-control,
respect, courtesy, perseverance and loyalty.
A beginner does not focus on being a skilled martial artist
within a month or two, as a strong foundation in Taekwondo
must be built first. Trying to advance beyond your level
without proper guidance is like building a house on concrete
that has not dried. Though the house may still stand, the
foundation would not be as strong and the appearance of the
house may not be as presentable.
The ATA and its affiliated organizations help build a strong
foundation of Songahm Taekwondo in each of its members, a
foundation from which advancement in both the martial art
(mind and body) and in self defense can be built
and added on to in perpetuity.
- copied from the American Taekwondo
Association website
